16 Comments

Who is that cute boy in the red shirt with Seth. Oh shucks I see a wedding ring. He’s already taken.

Your neighbors! • on Nov 19, 2007 5:43 pm

Go Andrew!

Patrick Meighan • on Nov 19, 2007 6:29 pm

That’s Andrew Goldberg, standing next to Seth MacFarlane.

He’s Seth’s assistant, and he organized the Assistant’s Picket (along with a few Simpsons assistants, if I understand correctly).

Like hundreds of other assistants in this town, Andrew has been fired from his job… not by the writers, but by the studios, who’ve decided to act like total douches and take their frustration out on the phone-answerers and meeting-schedulers of the world.

The studios are hoping that the assistants will blame the writers for their firing. Well, did you see the turnout on Pico today? It was amazing. Clearly, the assistants (or at least the hundred or so of ’em who rolled out to the Motor gate today) support the writers even more solidly, largely ’cause they’re getting their own firsthand look at how capricious and petty the studios can be: with one hand, Chernin (who, in the words of one of the Simpsons writers, sits on a throne of human skulls) says Fox is rollin’ in dough and is unharmed by the strike, while, with the other hand, Chernin fires people making $700 a week. Douche!

I used to be a writers’ assistant, and I understood that the strength of the Guild, then, would determine the value of Guild membership when I came aboard. The same is true now, of today’s generation of assistants. They recognize that the benefits we current writers win (or lose) today will be the benefits that they some day will have (or won’t) when they are writers.

In many ways, this fight is for them, and for all future members of the WGA, and, indeed, for the future members of all Hollywood guilds and unions.

Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA

p.s.: For what it’s worth, I understand that Seth MacFarlane will be paying Andrew’s salary (and those of his other assistants who were fired by Fox) out of his own pocket for the duration of the strike.

The redheaded girl on the right at the lemonade stand is really hot. She also looks like she’s really smart and creative and fun to be around.

the new guy • on Nov 19, 2007 7:25 pm

is it possible that these unemployed assistants are out there, supporting their bosses’ strike, so as to stay on the good side of said bosses once the strike is over and everyone’s back at work?

the wga is looking more and more thuggish with each passing day…

ANDREW • on Nov 19, 2007 7:39 pm

Seth’s assistant later put on a wig and a boston red sox cap and sold lemonade… Multi-tasker!

Patrick Meighan • on Nov 19, 2007 8:00 pm

“is it possible that these unemployed assistants are out there, supporting their bosses’ strike, so as to stay on the good side of said bosses once the strike is over and everyone’s back at work? the wga is looking more and more thuggish with each passing day…”

Given that this picket was actually dreamed-up, planned, organized and executed by assistants (one of whom I know personally), that’d make the WGA not just thuggish, but magical, with amazing mind-control powers.

Or maybe you’re just a lame AMPTP shill, who’s disoriented and befuddled by the sight of people doing something for someone other than themselves.

Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA

Kate • on Nov 19, 2007 9:05 pm

As one of the picketing assistants, I have to tell you, the new guy, you’re straight up wrong. We’re supporting the WGA because we believe in what they’re striking for, not because we’re trying to get into anyone’s good graces. We can do that without having to suck up, thanks very much.

Of course, our participation is not entirely altruistic: when we we join the Guild and our work gets produced and distributed through the internet, we want fair payment for that work, and we won’t get it unless we support the strike today.

girl scribe still walking • on Nov 19, 2007 9:06 pm

The wga thuggish? Writers? That’s hilarious.

I’ve been more threatened by producers than any writer.

You clearly don’t know any writers.

supporting assistant • on Nov 19, 2007 11:19 pm

The two girls are writers’ assistants for Shark. The 8 cent lemonade stand was genius! And freaking hilarious.

The gift cards were actually from a very generous group of animation writers from IATSE / TAG 839, organized by Steve Marmel, who wanted to show their solidarity with the WGA and our cause. And lunch was from a group of about 30 WGA writers, organized by Kristen Reidel, who donated over the weekend. Also, some anonymous writer left a hundred dollars in the above “Shark” writers assistants’ joke-ish tip jar for eight-cent “non-negotiable” donations. All in all, nearly $3,000 worth of food, gift cards, and wristbands were given out yesterday. There’s even an overflow of funds and writers who are still emailing that they want to give. We’re figuring out the appropriate charity. Possibly the WGA Union Solidarity Fund, which benefits non-WGA members affected by the strike.

And no, I don’t think the assistants came out and picketed to ingratiate ourselves with our bosses. Patrick’s right — some people still do things based on the strength of their convictions!

Phil • on Nov 20, 2007 9:55 am

Boy, this strike is sure changing my image of writers!

First it was the NY Times who described the WGA members wearing “arty glasses and fancy scarves,” and now The New Guy reminds me how thuggish they actually are.

Now when I think of writers, all I can see is Rocky from the old Bugs Bunny cartoons, decked out like a 70’s Elton John.

If the strike isn’t settled soon, I will surely go mad.

Anne • on Dec 21, 2007 10:38 pm

The girl with the Red Sox’s hat is a Yale Grad/attorney and writer’s assistant! Love the Lemonade stand! Fabulous!